Chapter 354: Settlement

On the broad street facing the lighthouse.

The [Collector], dressed in a vest and wearing a safe as a hat, is the first to arrive here.

On the thin line that he can retract or extend freely, are already hung the skulls of three of the lighthouse’s “Twelve Directors”… Even though they were both S-Level Strange Tales, there were fundamental differences in their strength.

Just as the collector was preparing to officially enter the lighthouse.

Something appeared to be falling from the top of the towering lighthouse.

Clang, crash!

All searchlights from the Lamp Man’s office fell to the ground.

Followed by, a not-so-standard Japanese message from the loudspeakers at the top of the lighthouse:

“[Lamp Man – Kinoshita Souichiro] is dead! I am now officially taking over the lighthouse… Any Strange Tales that used to belong to Kinoshita Souichiro, as long as you expose yourself to the light from the lighthouse, you can be granted amnesty and we will not pursue any of your responsibilities.

Anyone attempting to resist, their soul will be obliterated, never to reincarnate.”

As soon as those words were said.

The entire atmosphere of the Paradise changed immediately.

The surviving directors all knew clearly that such loudspeakers were installed in the Lamp Man’s office… and their connection with the Lamp Man had completely broken just a moment ago.

The manager who had controlled the lighthouse for a century, was dead.

……

Half an hour later.

At the office area on the top of the lighthouse.

Han Dong sat in an office filled with damaged cables, with only a single searchlight providing light.

In front of him.

The Collector, who ranked third in the Strange Tales list, the Prime Woman who ranked fifth, and the Butcher who ranked tenth were all gathered here.

“Since Souichiro is dead, my appraisal by Lord Hell is over! I’m leaving first…”

The Butcher seemed eager to return to the public toilet as fast as possible. Han Dong didn’t need to offer him any territory reward at all, because his true journey in hell was about to begin.

As the Butcher left, Han Dong looked at the two S-Level Strange Tales who had helped him to seize the lighthouse.

“Although I have gained control of the lighthouse and the Paradise, I won’t stay here much.

Can the [Collector] assist me in managing the entire Paradise? I will transfer the majority of the authority to you… Furthermore, I will abolish all functions of the lighthouse regarding the imprisonment and treatment of Strange Tales.

However, I will keep the Regulatory Office and set up a Judgment Committee.

This is to judge and imprison at the Regulatory Office those Strange Tales that deliberately disrupt order and endanger the development of the Paradise.

The [Collector] can determine some other minor details,

After all, as far as possible, it should be harmonious under full regulation.”

The Collector slightly lowers his metallic safe head, gladly accepting this arrangement. After all, he also has ambitions.

He then took over the “key to the lighthouse”, and sealed it in the important safe.

After that, Han Dong turned to the Prime Woman who was dressed in black and emitted a terrifying air from her body.

“Prime Woman, I’ve decided to hand over all the management rights of the peripheral area of the Paradise to you… There are countless ‘toys’ outside for you to play with, and humans from this world will continue to send death row prisoners periodically into the Paradise, which should satisfy your demands and desires.

Of course, if you prefer to stay in the previous alleyway, I won’t insist.”

“Want…” a trembling voice.

It’s as if thousands of severed heads were speaking at the same time, coming from the mouth of the Prime Woman. This terrifying woman spoke for the first time.

“Alright then, let it be!”

Once the peripheral area of the Paradise that is under the Prime Woman’s responsibility receives human death row convicts, they will basically be sent to their death. There is no need to worry about their complete invasion risk.

The moment Lamp Man was killed.

Han Dong received a system notification that the high-level mainline event was completed. Node – [Strange Tales Paradise] is unlocked. After Han Dong passes other Fate events in the future, he can choose to move to the Paradise Area and do what he wants.

The specifics of the lease will be decided when the rewards are settled.

After explaining everything about the situation in the lighthouse.

Han Dong returned the Rolex to Mr. Aha… Although Mr. Aha was somewhat tricky, it was the watch that allowed Han Dong to kill the Nurse Leader without any consumption.

“Yo! You should’ve gotten quite a bit… Before leaving, do you want to use the ‘trash’ you got in the lighthouse to exchange for Strange Tales Points here at my place?”

“You want to rip me off before I leave?”

Mr. Aha laughed awkwardly. Currently having a [Good Friend] relationship with Han Dong, he naturally wouldn’t force a sale…

As for Han Dong, because of killing Lamp Man, his and Abe’s total team points had exceeded two hundred.

Before leaving, Han Dong pulled Mr. Aha aside to ask about the ‘leaving’ and ‘containment’ issues.

In fact, Han Dong, who has obtained the Paradise node, isn’t in a hurry… once Han Dong upgrades his brain and unlocks the third prison cell, he can visit the Paradise at any time.

If Mr. Aha is willing, then he will be contained.

If he’s unwilling, Han Dong has other options—at least Origin Granny and the Collector are good choices.

After everything was explained, Han Dong and Abe chose to end this event.

“You have left the [Strange Tales] space, calculating…”

Team (after changes) cumulative Strange Tales points: 213, Assessment: [Great Death Convict].

Rewards: Fate Points [3], ‘Fate Card (Seed Level)’, one high-level [Strange Tales] souvenir.

Extra reward (for unlocking and completing high-level mainline): Paradise node.

In the blink of an eye.

Han Dong returned to the familiar white space.

The harvest this time is unprecedentedly rich… Even Han Dong himself couldn’t help but grin broadly.

After all, in addition to the obvious rewards, Han Dong also smuggled some private goods. The value of [Lamp Man]’s core searchlight was frightful.

“Are you willing to lease the [Paradise Node] to the Fate Space, and receive an annual rent of: 50 points?

Notes:

①. The lease is calculated annually, you may not enter the node if the lease period is less than one year.

②. You must re-enter the corresponding node of the Fate Space every year to ‘renew the lease’.”

Are you willing to lease?”

“Yes!”

Of course, Han Dong is willing.

A full 50 points per year is not a small amount.

Furthermore, Han Dong won’t be running to the Paradise for no reason. A cycle of one year is pretty good… After all, Han Dong’s main focus is still in the real world.

“The contract has taken effect, the Paradise Node is closed.”

Next is the most common segment for the distribution of Fate Points.

Han Dong only needs to allocate one more point to [Mysticism] and he can reach the Seed-Breaking phase. Once he successfully breaks the breed through some special method, he can become a Formal Knight.

But…

Han Dong walked straight to the Door of Fate – [Library], built of soil material and marked with the imprint of three books.

The three Fate Points he had obtained from a perfect clearance, Han Dong put them all into it without a fraction left…

“Next, when I return to the Holy City, Dumps will need to take me to the inside of the Library.”